David Rosenman often takes his nine-year-old daughter to their local coffee shop for breakfast. He spends the time checking emails and organising the week ahead, while she eats and entertains herself with crocheting. But this visit was different.
Before leaving, David’s daughter had a request, ‘Daddy, can you not read the paper or doodle or check emails today? Can we just be together?’
So that’s exactly what they did.
During what turned into a lengthy bonding session, David recalled ‘melting a little bit’ as he realised how much he loved his daughter. They spoke about her yarn project and school friends, and compared notes on whether or not couples at other tables were on dates – as she practised her starry-eyed stare.
RELATED: GIRL BEGS FATHER CHRISTMAS TO CURE HER MOTHER’S ILLNESS
That wasn’t all: a woman in the shop was also watching David. When he returned to the counter, the anonymous female dropped a note on his table before heading out.
What to read next
Dear Fellow Human Beings,This morning, at her request, I took our 9-year-old daughter to a coffee shop. She brought...
Posted by David Rosenman on Sunday, 22 November 2015
It read, ‘I work at a school where many daughters don’t have fathers and those who do have never in their lives had him watch, listen, devote 100% of his attention to her for as long as you did on one Sunday morning.
‘You have no idea what a gift you’re giving to all of the teachers who are responsible for educating her from now until she graduates.’
David expressed his appreciation for the kind words from the teacher in a Facebook post. On reflection, he said, ‘I wished it hadn’t taken her past experience and her courageous reaching out for me to give her the attention she so wanted and needed.’
He went on to urge other parents to ‘choose to be present today – even for just a little while – for someone you love.’
RELATED: FAMOUS FATHERS’ WORDS OF WISDOM FOR THEIR DAUGHTERS
